Dillingen

Dillingen (Dillingen/Saar) is a steel town on the Saar river, home to Dillinger Hütte, one of Europe's leading heavy-steel-plate producers with roots going back to 1685 — it was Germany's first joint-stock company, founded in 1809. The plant, still the only site in the Saar region where iron is smelted, dominates the local economy and skyline, and the town's identity is closely tied to the wider Saarland steel industry. Visitors more often pass through en route to the nearby Völklinger Hütte UNESCO World Heritage ironworks than come for Dillingen itself.

Dillingen is accessible by car via regional roads. The nearest airports with commercial service are within a few hours' drive. Train service may be available to nearby towns, with local buses or taxis completing the journey.

The town centre is walkable; local buses connect it to the Dillinger Hütte works and neighbouring villages along the Saar.

Walking and cycling routes follow the Saar riverfront; the surrounding countryside offers further hiking.

• Berlin — Germany's capital city, reachable by regional train
• Nearby towns in Saarland — explore the surrounding region